Combined beet puller and topper.



A. B. GROSS.

COMBINED BBET FULLER AND TOPDER.

APPLICATION FILED APBJB. 1913. 1,108,341 Patented Aug. 25, 1914 3 BEEETDBHBET 1.

- t W asses gq bk m f I M J A. B. GROSS. COMBINED BBET FULLER AND TOPPER. APPLIOATIOH FILED APBJB. 1913.

1,108,341; Patenten Aug. 25, 1914v A 3 SHEETS-SHBBT 2- A. B. GROSS.

COMBINED BBET FULLER AND TOPPER.

APPLIoATmK FILED umm. 191s.

`combined, beetv pullers andl toppers.; z. r. The object oi the invention? :Ls-'to provide:

ANDREW n. cnossfr;nnnvniacononano.

coivrnnnn naar runnen ann TOPPER. l

speci'aton of I-etters Patent. A'Pplication leilAPril 1S, 1913. Serial No. .761,9't2..

'patented Aug. e5, 1914.

To all whom z'tmag/ concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW B. CROSS, a. citizen of the United States of: Americafre siding in the city and county of.' Denver and.` State of Colorado, have invented a new and 'useful Combined Beet Puller andTopper, Vofi which the following is a specification. This .invention relates to improvements 1n amachine of this characten; comprising; .a wheel-supported trame," upon which. 1s mounted a rotatable beet puller consisting of suitable supporting disks uponawhich are pivotally mounted coperatingypairs 4'of beet.

pulling arms or levers,fmeans being pro-., vided for operatin'gsaid'zarms to4 olampthe tops and extract beets, and y'tefrelease the tops at predetermined points.. inthe rotative travel of the puller.

Further, toprovide in connection W1th a rotatable beet puller, mechanism for raising the beet tops, and for guiding them between the pulling arms, in position to be clamped by said arms, and a knife arranged at a pre- .'determined point in the rotative travel oi' .I proved beet the puller, for severing the tops from the beets, conveyers being provided to receive the beets and tops, independently, and todischarge them on one side oi the machine. j.-

rlhese, objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l isa side elevation of thelimpuller and topper. Fig.- 2 is a plan view of the saine, parts being omitted to prevent confusion. Fig. 3is a central transverse sectional `vievv of Athe machine looking toward the forward end of the same. Fig. l, is a plan view ,of aportion of the beet chute, showing the gate, tor determining thereon-rse onlithelfbeetsji. `;lll`i:g; 5, is an enlarged vieyvvot theinner` endloizone of the gripping levers, showing anti-friction rollers thereon. Fig. 6, illustrates a modi-l iication of the roller short/nain Fig.; 5, together with the itorm ot calm; 'Fig. is a plan view` of a modification ogtthebeet topper. llig. 8, is a detail sectional vievv showing a modification in the mannerf ofconnecting the @ripping levers to thefbeet. Wheel. ilig. 9, is atop view ot one of the-cams :tor operating the grinning levers, and Fig. 10,

y lista' longitudinal sectional viewthrough a iportion of onel of the beet top litters.

s Similar letters of reference refer to similiar partsthroughout the several views. fnReferrmg `to the accompanying draw- Imgm-the numeral .1 indicates a suitable 'I frame which is lpreferably constructed of anigle ironand which -is provided at its rear lend. withl depending brackets 2, upon the `lower ends 'of which is mounted a shaft tor axle v3, carrying supporting Wheels 4. The frontend of the frame is provided with ,afat bearing ring 5, which rests upon a corresponding bearing ring 6, ci a revoluble ,support 7., which carries a. shaft or axle 8, upon which are -mounted supporting iWheels 9. A bolt l0 passes axially through the rings 5 and 6, and is pivotally connected ,to the axle t3. A. rod 10A is supported in a .bracket 10B, above and rear of the bolt l0. rlhe rod l0A has a hand Wheel l()C at its upper end, and is also provided with a rigidly connected gear Wheel 11, which meshes with teeth formed on the inner edge of the bearing ring G. Thus, by turning the hand Wheel, the front axle is turned and the machine is guided by the attendant to keep the pulling -Wheel in line with the ronT ot beets to be pulled.

3 lrtA a suitable position upon the frame l, .isfrigidly mounted a transverse shatt l2, upon Whichis revolubly mounted a hub or adrum 13, upon which are rigidly secured cirm cular plates or disks lli, which are preter- ,ably about seven feet in diameter, and are out oi contact with the ground. l`hese plates are separated by a space oit approxilmately nine inches, to permit the beet tops to pass between them, and. their circumfertial 'edges are provided With radial grooves or slots 15, of suitable depth, those in one plate being opposite those in the other plate, -to form coperating pairs of slots, which correspond in number to the pairs of heet pulling arms 16, which are carried by the plates. lhe arms lli are flat metal arms, having right angled projections 'l'lat their outer ends, which entend inwardly through the slots l5 of the plates 145, andupon the opposing edges of the projections l?, are secured or formed integral therewith clamp-V ing plates 18, the plates on each set of larlns xbeing of such length that only a slight space is left between them. The arms 16 are pivotally mountedintermediate of their ends, between pairs of angle plates 19, which are bolted to the circular lates 14, and their inner ends enter annu ar cam grooves 20, which may be formed in hubs 13A, which are rigidly mounted on the shaft 12, but which are preferably formed by pairs of circular parallel plates, as illustrated, which are rigidly secured tothe hubs 13A. The grooves 20, formed by these plates, comprise portions 21, which are parallel with and adjacent to the respective plates 22, which are also parallel with but farther from the plates 14, than the portions 21, and the portions 21 and 22 are. connected by short inclined ortions 23. Thus, when the inner ends of t earms 16 are in the portions 21 of the grooves, their outer ends are widest apart, an when the said inner ends are in the portions 22 of the grooves, their outer ends lie close together, and their plates 18 are in clamping relation. The arms are thrownfrom one of these positions tothe other, by contact of their inner ends with the short portions 23 of the grooves, whereby they are caused either to clamp or release the beet tops, as the case may be.

The hub or drum 13 is provided with 2 rows of sprocket teeth as shown, and is connected by chains 24, with a sprocket pulley 25, on a shaft 26, mounted on the frame 1, in front of the beet pulling wheel, and this shaft is provided, on opposite sides of the pulley 25, with sprocket wheels 27, whichare connected by chains 28, with sprocketV wheels 29, on the rear axle 3, by means of which motion is transmitted to the beet pulling wheel. The axle 3 is a revoluble axle, and the wheels may be connected to the axle by any suitable pawl and ratchet arrangement, such as commonly employed in agricultural machines, so that should the machine be backed, the shaft will remain stationary, and the beet wheel will not be rotated in a reverse direction. A l

Upon the chains 24 is secured a belt 24A, and this belt 24A is preferably a slatted belt, and is adapted to catch the beet tops as they are released by the pullin arms, and convey them out from between t e plates 14. These tops are deposited by the belt 24A upon 'an endless belt 3 0, mounted upon a frame 31, supported from the underside of the frame 1i The shafts of the end belt supporting rollers of the frame 31,A are provided with bevel gear wheels 32, which mesh with bevel gear wheels33, of shafts 3 4. These shafts 34 have sprocket wheels 35, on their inner ends, which are connected by chains 36, with loose sprocket wheels 37, on the shaft 26. The `sprocket wheels 37 have toothed faces which are adapted to be engaged by clutches 38, which have a feather key connection with the shaft 14, and portionsy on the outer ends,

26, so as to be slidable thereon, but rotatable therewith. `The clutches are operated by levers 39, and when one orthe other of themv is in engagement with its 'sprocket wheel, the belt 30 is turned to the right or left, as the case may be, so that in whichever direction the machine 'is moving, the tops may be dropped on that side -of the machine next the rows from which the beets have been pulled.

Depending fro-m opposite sides of the frame 1, are suitable brackets 40, the lower ends of which are slightlyin advance of the beet pulling wheel, and uponthe lower ends of the brackets are revolubly mounted concavo-convex disks 41, which are oppositely inclined with respect to each other, beingwidest apart at their uppermost points. These disks are adapted to out into the round on each side of a row of beets, and

oosen the beets to such an extent that they may be pulled by the clamps without liability oftheir tops being severed.

The tops are lifted from the ground and guided in between the plates 14 in position to be gripped by the clamps or pulling arms, in the following manner: Suspended from the frame 1, so as to lie at an inclination to the ground, in advance of the disks 41, are parallel roller-like members 42, havingV pointed forward ends. The forward portions of these members 42, are pivotally sup.- ported in the lower ends of hangers 43, which are secured at their upper ends to the frame 1. The rear ends of the members 42, terminate in short reduced neck portions 44, which fit revolubly in sleeves 45, at the lower ends of tubular' hangers 46, which depend from the shaft 26.

The roller members 42, are rigidly mounted on shafts 47 which extend back between the plates 14 of the beet wheel, and similar roller members 48 are rigidly mounted on these shafts, and have 'short reduced neck portions 49, which fit revolubly in the rear ends of the sleeves 45, the members 48 extendin to the opening between the plates 14. Upon t e peripheral surfaces of the members l 42 and 48, are formed auger-like ribs or beads, those on the righthand rollers being oppositely set from those on the left hand rollers. Upon the shafts 47 within the sleeves 45, are secured bevel gear wheels 50, which mesh withl bevel gearwheels 51, on the lower ends ofshafts 52, which extend up through the tubular hangers 4 6, and carry bevel gear wheels 53, at their upper ends, which mesh with similar wheels 54, on the shaft 26. Thus, motion is transmitted to the shafts 47, carrying the auger-like rollers,4 and which are turned outwardly in opposite directions from each other. These augerlike rollers lie on opposite sides of a row of beets, and as the machine advances, their pointed ends extend under and -lift the beet loo incassi tops, which are thus guided back betvveen the shafts or rods il?, and are held in position to be gripped by the clamping plates l@ at the outer ends of the levers 1G.

a Albout midway of the frame l and on op posite sides of the beetpulling' Wheel7 are secured uprights or standards lt, comprisu iup; angle bars 55 and 56. each of such pairs being1 connected their upper ends., as

shown. To the upper ends of these uprights is secured a resilient yoke-shaped beet guide 5i/tbe open end of which is toward the rearo 'Upon the forward portion of this 'i o is secured a 'tt-shaped knife liti, which s adapted to sever the beets from the tops,

they are forced in between the members off the said knife by the pulling Wheel. "llhe is adapted to be sprung or bent dovvn accommodate itself to the beet to be topped, some of which extend farther above e surface of the ground than others.

. us9 a, beet which extends above the ground lie adjacent to'or against the edges of the clamping plates i8. when its tops are clamped by said plates, and this beet n naturally bend the forward end of the Ile 57 down, as it passes through the same between the blades of the nl-shaped 58. The beets.) however, which are level with or below the surface of the ground,

will e considerable distance from the ^es of the clamping jaws when their tops are by the said jaws9 and obviously such beets will not tend to bring` the guide i sa 57' down. ld'hen the clamping plates grip the tops close to or so as to touch the beets, the large end of the beet and not the tops would be carried between the members of the beet guide., and would jam thereinU ln y an order to obviate this contingency7 secure on each member of the guide7 adjacent to its rear end a horizontally disposed shaped knife 59D the closed ends of which lr. 'toward each otheru By this means? a beets thus clamped pass in between the rear ends of the guides. the knives SQ Will cut tl-shaped grooves in their opposite sides, lwhich vvill permit them to pass between the members of the guide Without jamming, and so they will thus bemore easily acted upon by the knife 58.

ln order to facilitate the guiding and cutting operation, and also to remove the earth from the beets -as they pass tothe knife 58, l secure above the beet gui de spiral scrnbbers'1 comprising parallel rollers 60, upon which are secured spirally Wound brushes 6l, the said spirals being; oppositely turned with respect to each other. lhese CIK Aeo scrubbers lie at an angle parallel with the normal angle of the beet guide, and are rotatably supported at their forward ends in supports 62, which are attached to the bars 55 of the standards 1A, and at their rear ends7 in the members of an inverted U- .73, the members of 'which ei shaped support 63, the lovver ends of 'which are secured to the bars 56 of the standards 1A. The support 63 is high enough to let the beets pass under its upper closed endmnd by forming the support thus, the rear ends of ya rollers 60 are prevented from. spreadir fg. il rear ends of the rollers 6U., haringj nroiec shafts 6d, which are connected n ends of ordinary flexible sh their lower ends have bevel mesh With idle gears 67, Whi-c With bevel gears 65h on the upper el tical. shafts 69, having bev lower ends, Whieli are driv on the rear E. "l'he i arranged to drive e sp1 vafardly with respect t y the beets are severed fron knife 5h, they iall into a conveys them to an inverted "f and beyondV the sides of *ha isate "te is hinged at its front side of the chute ".73, ai of the same. sotbat it can be right or left., and rest side or the other the guide the beets iut-c the ber of the chute '3 reference to lfiy' lb., which enter t vided with anti-friction l axial recesses 263 which entend lll@ of the lever? and a. similar posed bet-Ween the opposite ment and Wasl'ier SO7 Wl end of the lever by a the rollers l5 on the Wallsof die earn .oo moves in and out.

A. modilication of the cam 'i is shown in tl. lin mod um, the outer edges of the Walls of the cam 2ozroove are introverted as shown 82., prevent the Withdrawal of the rollers 83., -which may be i inserted at some point when the introverted edges are recessed forthe purpose. rfhe springs 78 are eliminated and the reduced inner end of the lever slides through an axial aperture in the roller, as the levers are ma; rocked on their pivots.

ln Fig. 7, a modiiication of the cuttingr or topping knife is shown. ln this ineditication the same form of beet guide is ernployed as is shown in Fig. 2, but the lt las, shaped knife is dispensed with, and a pair of cooperating cutting disks 8d are employed. rlhese disks have spindles which are mounted in bearings on the members of are connected to flexible shafts 85, which are connected to the rear aXle in the manner above described.

In Fig. 8, is shown a modification in the manner of attaching the clamping levers to the sides of the circular plates 14. In this modification, I connect the lever to the plate 14, by a spring S6, which will not only permit the lever to give, if its outer end should strike an obstruction, but it also permits the levers to clamp the beet tops with a yielding pressure, by which the said levers can accommodate themselves to bunches of stalk of varying bulk. A seat 87 is su ported rear of the steering wheel C, ,and

the attendant occupying the saine can also shift the gate 74 in the beet chute 73, to properly direct the beets as they fall from the knife.

In operation, the machine is drawn along the field over a row of beets, and as it advances the beet tops are lifted by the augerilike lifters, and conveyed back between the plates 14, which carry the clamping or gripand the earth removed drop down between the ping levers 16; the disks '41 cutting the ground on each side of the row of beets. The cam is so set that as the gripping levers in their travel come to a position on opposite sides of the beet tops to be gripped, the cooperating pairs of levers arel simultaneously closed upon the said tops,- and as the pulling Wheel further rotates, the beet is extracted, and carried around and into the lbeet guide, where its progress is augmented, therefrom, by the spiral scrubbers 61; and as it passes between the blades of the knife 58, it is severed from the tops, and fallsinto the chute`72, and thence into the chute 7 3, the gate 74 determining upon which side of the machine it is delivered. As the wheel rotates and the' gripping levers reach a point slightly beyond the point where the beet was severed, the cam opens the said levers and the tops plates 14 and upon the slotted belt 24A, which drops them upon the conveyer 30, by which they are delivered on the right or left side of the machine,as the case may be, it being understood that when one of the clutches 38 is in engagement with the adjacent sprocket wheel 37, the other clutch is out of engagement with its sprocket wheel. By properly manipulating the steering Wheel 10C, the machine may be so guided as to cause the top lifters 42, always to straddle a row of beets as the machine advances.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Thecombination with a rotatable series of beet gripping levers, of a V-shaped beet guide, operatively supported in the path of said levers, a V-shaped knife upon the closed end of said guide, and opposing horizontally disposed U-shaped knives on said guide adjacent the extremities thereof, the closed ends of which are toward each other.

2. The combination with a rotatable series of beet gripping levers arranged in coperating pairs, and means for opening and closing said pairs of levers at predetermined points in their rotative travel, of a resiliently-yielding .beet guide operatively supported at a predetermined point in, the path of said levers, a topping knife on said guide and gouges at the entrance of said guide, and secured thereto, for removing portions from opposite sides of beets.

3. The combination with a rotatable series of beet gripping jaws arranged'in coperating pairs, a guide and a topping knife on said guide, of parallel rotatable beet scrubbers operatively supported above said guide, and means for operating them.

4. The combination with a rotatable series of beet gripping levers arranged in coperating pairs, a beet guide supported in the path of said levers, and a topping knife on said guide, ofjspaced parallel rollers supported above and adjacent said beet guide, having spirally and means for rotating said rollers site directions.

5. In a beet puller and topper, a rotatable series of radially disposed gripping levers arranged in co"perating pairs, means for automatically closing said levers at predetermined points in their rotative travel, for holding them closed for a fixed period and for opening them and holding them open for a fixed period, the outer ends of said levers being out of contact with the ground, a resiliently yielding V-shaped beet guide supported in operative relation to the path of the clamping ends of the lever, and a V- shaped knife on said beet guide. A

Intestimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW CROSS.

in oppo- Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMiTH.

arranged brushes thereon, l 

